Do you have to upgrade to an iPhone 17 Pro of last year’s model? I am – here is why

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ZDnet’s most important take -away restaurants

• Apple has just launched its iPhone 17 Pro.
• The new model contains some seductive upgrades.
• I have had the 16 Pro for a year and could trade it in.

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Although most people choose to wait a few years before they upgrade their iPhones, that is a bit more challenging for technical enthusiasts like me. I really wanted to upgrade my daily driver, the iPhone 16 Pro, but after viewing the launching event to be upgraded and looked at the latest iPhone 17 Pro -release in specifications, I am almost convinced to make the upgrade.

Also: Apple iPhone 17 Event Summary: iPhone Air Preorders, Apple Watch 11, AirPods Pro 3, More

Although the most flashy announcement of this week’s product launch is the long -awaited iPhone Air, the lightest and thinnest phone of the company so far, the iPhone 17 Pro received a number of important upgrades that make it to watch. With a renewed design, daring colors and upgrades under death, it is one of the most capable iPhone models to date.

Here are the three main reasons why I might just be able to say goodbye to my iPhone 16 Pro (for the last reason is my biggest motivator).

1. Camera -upgrades

The biggest reason to buy one of the Pro models is that you are an avid photo, memory display or content maker and needs the advanced camera system that offer this Phons. This year that reason threatens great.

Also: Apple iPhone 17 Pro vs. iPhone 16 Pro: I have compared both models, and here are the differences

The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max function “Apple’s best ever camera systems with sensors with a higher resolution at the front and rear-similar to eight pro lenses in the bag of a user,” says Apple. Let me break down the actual specifications.

For the first time, the Array contains three 48MP fusion cameras with three cameras, including the new 48MP telephone camera, which has a sensor that is 56% larger than the previous generation. This should contribute to sharper, sharper images in both lighter and dark environments, and helping to compete better with smartphones that do very well with long distance, such as the Google Pixel 10 Pro.

The claim that there are eight pro -lenses in the bag of a user comes from the fact that they can now bend between different zoom ranges, for example 4x optical zoom at 100 mm versus 8x optical zoom at 200 mm (of which Apple says is the longest on an iPhone). At the front, the iPhone 17 Pro also has an upgrade with a center point, giving it a wider field of vision for group selfies and a better resolution, up to 18MP.

Also: Why I break the 5 -year -old iPhone -Upgrade Cycle -and I am not alone

The editor-in-chief of ZDNet Jason Hiner Weed on a potential pitfall: “All three iPhone 17 Pro cameras are now 48MP and Fusion cameras, which means that they have several effective lengths. So the zoom camera is now 4x with an 8x ‘optical quality’ Zoom. That actually has the optical. ”

However, the new specifications look promising and you will really only know how well the camera performs when you use it, but my interest is aroused. Keep an in -depth review of an in -depth camera system such as those I did last year for the iPhone 16 Pro.

2. The lifetime of the battery

In another daring claim from Apple, the company says that the iPhone 17 Pro has the best battery life in an iPhone. Apple attributes this performance to the Unibody design, which makes it possible for recording a larger battery, iOS 26 battery-optimizing functions and the new A19 Pro chipset. Although Apple does not offer the actual battery specifications, the company says that the telephone supports 33 hours of video playing. For comparison: the iPhone 16 Pro offers a maximum of 27 hours of video playing.

Also: My iPhone 15 Pro Max battery time went from great to terrible in less than two years – what happened?

Although I am satisfied with the performance of the battery life of the iPhone 16 Pro, probably because it has only been a year, I am a textbook definition of what you would call a Power user. At the same time I will be in Facetime and edit a video, while I switch to another window to answer texts. Even my routine before bedtime includes hours of doomscrolling, and as a result I can always benefit from a better battery.

3. Strict aesthetics

While I wanted me to make a joke, the new look and colors of the iPhone 17 Pro play a major role in my decision to upgrade. With this iPhone 17 -Line -up as a whole it was refreshing to see Apple take more creative freedoms. Although this was illustrated in its most unique form factor, the iPhone Air, the iPhone 17 Pro, also shows this trend, especially because of its more fun colors.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BE0E7-HQDSO

Although I am not an orange person and do not have one ounce of orange in my wardrobe or accessories, the cosmic orange color is absolutely amazing. As we discussed in the office, the hands-on images make it clear that the color is much less a traffic cone orange and much more a copper-like hue. Even the deep blue shade, although less striking, is still a beautiful color. Last year the three Pro models were all different shades of neutrals, ranging between four very simple and boring colors.

Also: iPhone 17 pre -orders are open: here you can find free telephone deals

There is also a small variation in the actual form factor. The camera multiple extends over the entire top of the phone, similar to that of the Google Pixel models. There is also a two -tone panel on the back of the phone, which adds some visual variety.